Sponsored by:
San Antonio’s sustainability is becoming a household topic. Most people begin to learn the importance of protecting the planet in grade school. Those grade-schoolers are now the next generations. With the drastic effects of climate change documented daily in international media, Gen Zs and millennials are ultimately tasked with reforming society’s views to make sustainability a priority.
A Deloitte study found that sustainability is a top priority for Gen Zs and millennials, but it goes beyond implementing environmentally friendly practices within their personal lives. These generations also feel that the government and their employers should be doing more to minimize their carbon footprint, while simultaneously encouraging others to do the same.
These findings may provide solace for some, but these generations are not letting up on their pursuit to ensure sustainability takes the front seat that they believe it deserves. Gen Zs and millennials are proving their due diligence in making sustainability a prime concern even while searching for new jobs.
The same Deloitte study found that a quarter of these generations are conducting their own research on their potential employers’ environmental impact and their policies before accepting a position. It also found that Gen Zs and millennials would like their employers to provide more education and training on how they can be sustainable, along with subsidies for employees so they can make the more sustainable choice. These actions and standards held by the rising generations provide a promising future for sustainability in the workplace.
Top talent in San Antonio may have more opportunities than other cities when it comes to seeking employment with companies that have made sustainability a part of their corporate culture and business model. With the conjoint efforts of the Solid Waste Management Department and the Office of Sustainability, a program was developed to help connect businesses and sustainability best practices — ReWorksSA.
ReWorksSA provides local businesses with assistance with starting or improving sustainability programs. The ReWorksSA program focuses on and consults with local businesses in the following categories: recycling and/or composting, water and energy conservation, alternative transportation and environmental policy.
Not only can businesses improve their sustainability best practices in the workplace, but they also have the opportunity to be recognized by the City of San Antonio for their efforts. ReWorksSA has a certification program that businesses can apply for if they want to be recognized as one of the elite organizations leading the commercial sustainability movement. The program started in 2018 and 179 businesses have been certified for successfully completing the process.
In addition to attracting and retaining top talent, consumers care about environmental stewardship of the business they elect and support. Part of the value proposition of ReWorksSA is promoting the city’s certified sustainability champions. On its website, ReWorksSA features a directory that showcases all of San Antonio’s certified businesses. This map can serve as a tool for those Gen Zs and millennials who are looking to work for a company that prioritizes sustainability. Additionally, the San Antonio community can utilize the same directory to find businesses that have implemented sustainability programs and policies in the workplace.
One case study would be Wildway, a ReWorksSA Pinnacle Award recipient, which is the highest level of certification. Other levels are bronze, silver and gold. Wildway is a natural food company that uses real ingredients to cultivate the connection between climate health and human health.
When asked how being sustainable has impacted their business, Kyle Koehler, founder and CEO, said, “It has made all our employees more mindful of waste created in their personal lives and the small steps they can take to reduce their waste footprint and create a better, more circular world.”
Not only has their sustainability stewardship positively impacted their employees, but their customer base as well. Koehler also mentioned that incorporating sustainability in the workplace has created more opportunities for them because they can service customers and vendors who are looking for a more environmentally friendly option.
As society begins to accept and grow with the sustainability movement, there is still a vast amount of work to be done. The younger generations are taking charge of this initiative and continue to push for sustainability change in their personal and professional lives.
More information on ReWorksSA is at www.reworkssa.org.
